Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- "I look forward to your visit to Paris in November 2022," President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron said on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1 March 1992) between the countries and the upcoming visit to France of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev. "Your visit to Paris will be a culmination and highlight in bilateral relations."

Of the five high-level reciprocal visits made since Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991, two have taken place in the past five years, with the direct participation and under the leadership of the current leaders of the two states.

Thus, in October 2018, at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, the head of Uzbekistan paid an official visit to France, the first country in Europe visited by Shavkat Mirziyoyev as President of Uzbekistan.

During a personal meeting in October 2018 and a telephone conversation in August 2021 with the head of our state, Emmanuel Macron indicated support for the large-scale transformations being carried out in Uzbekistan and highly appreciated its foreign policy based on the principles of friendship, mutually beneficial partnership and consideration of interests.

It should be noted that, as a reformist president aimed at modernizing the political system of France, Emmanuel Macron also supports the aspirations of the leader of Uzbekistan to further develop and improve the functioning of the political system, aimed at concrete and pragmatic solutions.

During the official visit of Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Paris on 21-22 November, the heads of the two states noted with satisfaction the significant development of bilateral relations in recent years, and also emphasized the positive prospects created by the modernization reforms of our country and efforts to develop good neighborly relations in Central Asia.

In support of the multifaceted reforms carried out under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan, agreements on cooperation in the field of education, science, cultural heritage, civil aviation, public service and the fight against corruption were signed. An agreement was reached to hold political consultations on issues of mutual interest, in particular, in the field of security and the economy, to involve relevant ministries at various levels to search for and implement the decisions taken. A program of cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries for 2023-2024 was signed.

In general, today a solid contractual and legal framework has been formed between the parties: in total, about 50 documents of a different nature have been signed.

In the development of interregional cooperation, the heads of state expressed support for the European Union’s "Global Gate" strategy and the decisions taken following the EU-Central Asia Interdependence Conference held in Samarkand on 17-18 November 2022.

At the same time, Uzbekistan and France intend to expand cooperation in order to strengthen security, peace and stability at the international and regional levels, to strengthen the coordination of their actions within the UN, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, other international organizations and relevant regional structures.

In particular, the two countries are interested in helping to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan and ensure security in the region, which is clearly evidenced by the participation of the French side in the international conference on Afghanistan held in Tashkent on 26 July 2022.

It should be noted that France participated in military operations in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014 (the number of dead soldiers is 90). In his televised address in August 2021 regarding the situation in Afghanistan, President Emmanuel Macron said that the historical turn has serious consequences for the entire international community, including Europe, despite the geographical distance.

At the same time, as a sign of solidarity and support for the Afghans, since August 2021, France has sent humanitarian aid worth 120 million euros.

As pointed out by Emmanuel Macron back in August 2019 at the conference of French ambassadors, taking the initiative in finding new allies and forming alliances involving both European countries and "democratic powers of good will" is part of a new "strategy to influence".

France seeks to intensify cooperation with the countries of Central Asia at the bilateral level and in the multilateral format through the EU (Eastern Partnership, Partnership and Cooperation Agreement; dialogue "EU - Central Asia").

It is expected that in the medium term, Paris intends to continue its course towards the gradual strengthening of ties with the region, given the geopolitical importance of Central Asia, the promising investment and transport and communication potential of the region, the presence of a capacious market for French goods and services, as well as significant hydrocarbon reserves, serious water energy potential.

The reforms to modernize Uzbekistan, as well as the foreign policy of New Uzbekistan, based on the principles of good neighborliness, mutually beneficial partnership and consideration of interests, open up new positive prospects for expanding Uzbek-French cooperation.

Sharif Ahmedov,

Chief Researcher,

Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies

under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan